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EARTH AUGER WITH ROCK HEAD CUTS THROUGH BOULDERS IN CLAY

THE AUGER HEAD WAS AN 18 IN. DIAMETER KEN-CLAW DRILL BIT WITH WING CUTTERS. THIS HEAVY-DUTY ROCK BIT HAD TUNGSTEN/CARBIDE INSERTS. THE DRILL HEAD WAS WELDED TO A SHORT SHAFT SECTION. THE NEW AUGER AND A SECTION OF CASING WERE LOADED INTO PLACE BY A CAT 920 LOADER. AN AMERICAN MODEL 30-170 AUGER AND A SET OF 16-FT LONG TRACKING RAILS WERE USED IN THE PROJECT. THE BORE IS 60 FT LONG AND WAS LINED WITH 18-IN-DIAMETER STEEL CASING THAT WAS LEFT IN PLACE. THE LATTER WAS JACKED IN AS THE AUGER CUT FORWARD. SECTIONS WERE ADDED ON AND WELDED WHEN NEEDED. PROCEDURAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE USE OF THE EQUIPMENT ARE DESCRIBED. THE HORIZONTAL AUGER HEAD WITH WING CUTTERS EXTENDED GROUND THE ROCKS, AND IN SOME CASES ROCK FRAGMENTS THAT WEDGED IN THE AUGER FLIGHTS HAD TO BE SHAKEN LOOSE BEFORE DRILLING COULD RESUME.